Surely every owner of the cat noticed that his pet spends most of the time in a state of drowsiness. According to available statistics, only one third of her life is devoted to eating, playing games and other active activities. After reading today's article, you will find out how many hours a day cats sleep.
Factors affecting their daily routine
In the first place are the individual characteristics of a particular animal. On the second - his age. And only after that come other external factors. For example, little kittens are almost constantly dozing, waking up only for eating and sending the natural needs of their body. As for adults, they have a fairly quick and frequent change of regimes. So, a well-fed animal immediately begins to look for a quiet corner in which you can take a nap.
Those who do not know how many cats sleep per day will probably be interested in the fact that this also depends on their mental state. If the animal is frightened by something, then naturally, it will not be asleep. For example, guests came to the owners whom their favorite had never seen before. In such a situation, he will be afraid of extraneous odors and noises. Consequently, he may begin to panic. In such cases, the owners should try to do everything in their power to reassure their pet.
How many cats sleep per day?
An ordinary pet spends most of the day in a state of drowsiness. As a rule, the duration of this period is from fifteen to eighteen hours. Scientists attribute this feature to the fact that cats are, first of all, predators that are not characterized by herd instincts. Individuals living in natural conditions creep up to a potential victim, catch it, eat it and almost instantly go into sleep.
Those who already understand how many cats sleep per day will not hurt to find out that this period is divided into two different phases. Moreover, each of them is characterized by its own behavioral and physiological characteristics. Thus, an animal in a state of slumber lies quietly on its stomach or curled up. He has a decrease in metabolic activity and blood pressure, as well as a slowdown in heartbeat and breathing.
At this moment it is very easy to wake him, but after half an hour the nap goes into the second, deeper phase. The darling who has passed to this stage of sleep completely relaxes and turns on his side. At the same time, he can grumble, move his ears or tail, and sometimes release his claws. At this point, it is quite difficult to wake him up.
Favorite places to stay
Having figured out how much a cat should sleep per day, it should be noted that these animals are very serious about choosing a suitable corner. For a comfortable stay, they need silence, coziness and security.
Almost all domestic cats choose a place closer to their owner. Usually they settle in the legs or at the head of the head. Some individuals love heat, so they choose a corner for themselves, located close to heating appliances. Often they settle on batteries, near heaters or on fluffy rugs.
Having understood how much time a cat sleeps per day, it should be noted that some of them do this on higher ground. Such individuals often choose sites for their relaxation, located at a great distance from the floor. Often they climb onto tables, televisions, and even cabinets. This is due to the fact that they are led by a desire to see everything that happens around them.
Do cats see dreams?
Until recently, this was considered an exclusively human prerogative. But some time ago, this opinion was refuted by Lyon scientists. Those who already understand how much cats sleep per day will not hurt to find out that the staff of the Neurophysiological Research Center conducted a number of experiments. As a result, it was found that small predators see certain images. Most often they dream of licking a fur coat, fighting with an opponent, hunting and patrolling the territory.
To look into the magical realm of Morpheus, animals were hung with special sensors that can record brain activity in various circumstances. After that, scientists compared the indicators obtained in real conditions, with those that were recorded during sleep.
What if the pet has less rest?
Now that you know exactly how many cats sleep per day, you can watch your pet. Noticing that the animal began to spend more time in an active state, you need to be wary. Such changes in habits often indicate the appearance of health problems.
A cat needs sleep in order to regain strength. If he looks like an awake baby during wakefulness, he should be shown to the veterinarian. A shorter rest may indicate a thyroid problem.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly how many cats sleep per day , which places they prefer for a comfortable stay. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that this is a well-founded need, laid down by nature itself. An animal in the deep phase of sleep cannot be disturbed, since incompletely restored energy can lead to the fact that an affectionate pet will usually turn into an irritated and aggressive individual. Not rested animals more often than others suffer from various disorders of the nervous system and experience other health problems.